INQUIRER Sports

GAMES SUNDAY
(Cuneta Astrodome)
4:30 p.m.—Sta. Lucia vs. Red Bull
6:50 p.m.—Ginebra vs. Alaska

IT’S AN INTRIGUING SCENARIO which Red Bull has total control of.

The Barako take another shot at nailing an outright semifinal berth against Sta. Lucia today in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

While Red Bull, with a 10-7 card, takes the floor at 4:30 p.m., three teams—Ginebra, Alaska and Coca Cola—are hoping for a Sta. Lucia win that would pave the way for a playoff for the remaining No. 2 slot in the semis.

If Red Bull loses, the Barako will be relegated to the quarterfinals, while the winner of the Ginebra and Alaska match in the 6:50 p.m. game will meet the Tigers in a playoff for the second semifinal slot.

Ginebra, Alaska and Coke have superior quotients than Magnolia and Red Bull in the event that all of them finish at 10-8.

But a victory by the Barako will limit the Ginebra-Alaska tussle into a playoff for a quarterfinal slot with the loser finding themselves in a knockout match against the Realtors in the wildcard phase, which will also involve Talk N’ Text and Purefoods.

“Our game is really important, because the loser drops to the wildcard,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, whose wards stayed in contention with a 111-96 crushing of the Welcoat Dragons Friday night.

“Every team is trying to avoid the wildcard.”

Coca-Cola and Magnolia are the already assured of quarterfinal slots.

The Barako lost their first chance of joining Air21 in the semis Friday night, after bowing to Talk ‘N Text in a 105-103 cliffhanger.

But coach Yeng Guiao believes there are many reasons that will keep the Barakos motivated today, among them is their amazing streak of six straight semifinal appearances.

“We take pride in that. It’s a tribute to the team in general and to their hard work despite us not being the highest paying team,” Guiao said.

“We want to maintain that semis streak despite the loss of key players and injuries.”